David Haye's Trainer Continues To Be Fueled By Hatred

Adam Booth continues to be fueled by the "hatred" that has enabled him to confront the boxing establishment alone and win.

Booth will send David Haye into battle with Wladimir Klitschko in Saturday's heavyweight unification fight nearing the pinnacle of a journey that began in south London 15 years ago.

Since meeting at the Fitzroy Lodge amateur boxing club, the founders of Hayemaker have forged their own path through a sport that has been hostile to Booth.

In the eyes of many this opinionated newcomer, a forceful negotiator, boasted a limited pedigree having never boxed professionally, and was often viewed with contempt.

It was lonely at times for the 42-year-old, who faced the animosity of trainers, managers and promoters armed only with the unflinching loyalty of Haye and his own self-belief.

The struggle for recognition has created plenty of enemies and proved a real test of nerve, but Booth has prevailed by following his instincts.

"From day one I've only ever done what I think is right and not what other people wanted me to do," he said.

"That's true on the business side of things as well - and that meant a lot of accusations were levelled at me early on.

"Even to the point that when I first turned pro a manager said I was only licensed to carry the buckets to the corner.

"We still have to negotiate contracts and have arguments, but the hard time was way back.

"The hard time was when David was European champion and we were in and out of promotional contracts and TV deals.

"Then came the loss to Carl Thompson, that was when it was harder than it ever could be. Now it's a walk in the park.

"What happened back then gives me the steeliness, the determination and the hatred to do what I have to do and make the decisions I have to make.

"I use hatred, fear and nervousness as fuel to give me that determination to stand up in a room, because it's only ever been me, just me.

"Sometimes I would stand up against six or seven people in a room who have all got reputations, years of experience yet know the decision I'm taking was the right one.

"I don't give a damn what they say, this is how it's gong to be.

"I've walked out of those meetings and gone to the toilet halfway through sometimes and thought 'hold it together, sunshine'. But however I got through it, I got through it.

"I don't have to follow in their footsteps and bow to the way they did things and when I say 'they' I'm talking generically about the boxing establishment.

"We had a row in a rules meeting with an opponent's trainer once.

"There were seven points and we came away with seven points in our favour.

"The trainer patted me on the shoulder and said 'don't worry son, one day you'll learn how this business works'.

"I've never had to follow in other people's footsteps, because David put his belief in me from day one."

Even when pushed Booth is adamant he draws no satisfaction from recent triumphs that have resulted in reappraisals of his coaching credentials.

The tactical mastermind behind Haye's victory over Nikolai Valuev that secured the WBA title and George Groves' upset of James DeGale has often been derided.

DeGale branded him a "glorified Fitness First coach", while the tone of trainers of Audley Harrison, John Ruiz and Jean-Marc Mormeck was equally mocking.

Emanuel Steward, Klitschko's revered trainer, has also said his piece, although his words were delivered with far greater subtlety than those before him.

"Haye thinks we're worried about him? That is a joke. I have never seen Wladimir in such a great state of mind," said Steward.

"I feel the same way I did before Lennox Lewis's fight with Mike Tyson, or Tommy Hearns before his fight with Roberto Duran. And when I feel this good, everything's OK."

The barb is in the CV, which extends far beyond Lewis and Hearns.

Booth shrugs off the criticism, insisting he takes no pleasure from silencing his critics.

"Listen, as long as they keep questioning me it's fine," he said.

"I'm a bit superstitious, so don't start lording me up because then there's more chance of David losing. It's all a sideshow to the main event."

Despite his public refusal to indulge in gratification from repeatedly proving his many detractors wrong, Booth's words are frequently laced with pride.

But he also knows he owes everything to one man.

"I've p***** off so many people in this business I genuinely couldn't care less," he said.

"I've just made my decisions as I've gone along. A couple haven't been the right ones, but the vast majority have worked out.

"Either I'm the luckiest fella in the world, or I've put some of them right, and it's got to be a combination of luck and judgement.

"It's been a hell of a journey and the things I've done and seen and the decisions I've made and the people I've p***** off, it makes me put my hands on my head sometimes and ask 'how did I get away with that?'

[QUOTE=Money_May;10764838]Adam booth is a good trainer he's continously defied his critics and the game plans he came up with against valuev and degale were top class. Also the mind games employed by booth and team hayemaker seem to always give…

Adam booth is a good trainer he's continously defied his critics and the game plans he came up with against valuev and degale were top class. Also the mind games employed by booth and team hayemaker seem to always give…

I'm an American and my only knowledge of Adam Booth comes from Haye, and just recently with George Groves (I watched 2 episodes of the Sky hype program that was like 24/7 on YouTube, then watched the fight on Epix),…